Crankcase drainage device

Abstract

A drain plug adapter for use in place of a standard drain plug in the crankcase of an internal combustion engine includes two portions. The first portion is a drain plug adapter housing having a cylindrical passage through it in which a ball check valve is mounted. The ball check valve is resiliently biased by means of a compression coil spring into engagement with a rubber O-ring mounted in an annular groove near the upper end of the drain plug adapter to form a valve seat for engagement by the ball under bias of the compression coil spring. A valve body coupler is threadedly attached to the lower end of the drain plug adapter and has a fluid path through it in communication with the passage through the drain plug adapter. The coupler is connected by means of a fluid conduit to an electric motor driven pump for withdrawal oil from the crankcase by creation of a vacuum beneath the ball of the check valve to move it downwardly to permit oil to be withdrawn.

I claim: 
     
       1. A check valve particularly adapted for use in a suction drainage system for removing oil from the crankcase of an internal combustion engine through the drain plug opening in the bottom of such crankcase, said valve including in combination: adapter housing having first and second ends and having a cylindrical passage therethrough, said passage having a first portion of a first predetermined diameter extending from the first end of said housing and a second portion of second predetermined diameter less than said first predetermined diameter extending from the second end of said housing to form a shoulder means where said first and second portions of said passage meet;   a flange on the second end of said adapter housing, said flange extending outwardly from said adapter housing and having a thickness less than the distance from the bottom of said flange to said shoulder means;   means for securing said adapter housing in the drain plug opening of said crankcase, with said flange overlying the bottom of said crankcase surrounding the drain plug opening to position said shoulder means within the drain plug opening;   compression spring means with first and second ends located in said first portion of said passage, with the first end of said spring means being supported by said shoulder means;   valve means in said first portion of said passage and engaged by the second end of said compression spring means; and   valve seat means in said passage adjacent the first end of said housing for engagement by said valve means, said compression spring means normally biasing said valve means into engagement with said valve seat means.   
     
     
       2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said valve seat means comprises a resilient valve seat means. 
     
     
       3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said passage has a groove about the circumference thereof near the first end thereof; and said valve seat means comprises a resilient O-ring seated in said groove. 
     
     
       4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said valve means comprises a ball member. 
     
     
       5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said spring means is a tapered coil spring, having a large end and a small end, the large end thereof engaging said shoulder means and the small end thereof engaging said ball member for resiliently pressing said ball member into engagement with said valve seat means. 
     
     
       6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said spring means has a portion attached to the first end thereof extending into said passage toward the first end of said passage from said shoulder means to prevent said valve means from closing the first end of said passage when said valve means is moved out of engagement with said valve seat means. 
     
     
       7. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said spring means has a portion attached to the first end thereof extending into said passage toward the first end of said passage from said shoulder means to prevent said valve means from closing the first end of said passage when said valve means is moved out of engagement with said valve seat means. 
     
     
       8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein said valve seat means comprises a resilient valve seat means. 
     
     
       9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein said passage has a groove about the circumference thereof near the first end thereof; and said valve seat means comprises a resilient O-ring seated in said groove. 
     
     
       10. The combination according to claim 9 wherein said valve means comprises a ball member. 
     
     
       11. The combination according to claim 10 wherein said spring means is a tapered coil spring, having a large end and a small end, the large end thereof engaging said shoulder means and the small end thereof engaging said ball member for resiliently pressing said ball member into engagement with said valve seat means. 
     
     
       12. The combination according to claim 11 further including means for moving said ball member out of engagement with said valve seat means toward said shoulder means against the bias of said spring means. 
     
     
       13. The combination according to claim 12 wherein said means for moving said ball member comprises coupler means having a passage therein for fluid communication with said second portion of said passage at the second end of said housing; and pump means for withdrawing fluid from the passage in said coupler means by application of a vacuum thereto to pull said valve member toward said shoulder means. 
     
     
       14. The combination according to claim 13 wherein said coupler means and the second end of said adapter housing include mating threaded portions for securing said coupler means to the second end of said adapter housing. 
     
     
       15. A device for permitting withdrawal of oil from the crankcase of an internal combustion engine through the drain plug opening in the bottom of such crankcase, said device including in combination: a drain plug adapter housing having first and second ends and having a cylindrical passage therethrough, said passage having a first portion of a first predetermined diameter extending from the first end of said housing and a second portion of second predetermined diameter less than said first predetermined diameter extending from the second end of said adapter housing to form a shoulder means where said first and second portions of said passage meet;   a flange on the second end of said drain plug adapter, said flange extending outwardly from said adapter and having a thickness less than the distance from the bottom of said flange to said shoulder means;   means for securing said drain plug adapter housing in the drain plug opening of said crankcase, with said flange overlying the bottom of said crankcase surrounding the drain plug opening and said shoulder means located above the bottom of the drain plug opening;   compression coil spring means, with first and second ends, located in said first portion of said passage, with the first end of said compression coil spring means being supported by said shoulder means;   a check valve member resiliently supported by the second end of said compression coil spring means in said first portion of said passage;   a valve seat member adjacent the first end of said adapter housing in said first portion of said passage for engagement by said valve member by compression of said coil spring means to normally close said passage;   a coupler attachment member removably secured to said second end of said drain plug adapter housing, said coupler member including a passage therethrough for fluid communication with said second end of said passage in said drain plug adapter; and   means for attaching a fluid withdrawal line to the passage through said coupler attachment member.   
     
     
       16. The combination according to claim 15 wherein said drain plug adapter housing has an annular groove in the first portion of said cylindrical passage adjacent the first end of said adapter housing; and said valve seat member comprises a resilient O-ring seated in said annular groove.   
     
     
       17. The combination according to claim 15 wherein said coil spring is a tapered coil spring, having the widest portion thereof supported by said shoulder means and a narrower upper portion thereof in engagement with said valve means. 
     
     
       18. The combination according to claim 17 wherein said valve means is a spherical ball. 
     
     
       19. The combination according to claim 15 wherein said means for removably attaching said coupler means to said second end of said drain plug adapter housing comprises mating male and female threaded portions on the second end of said drain plug adapter housing and on of said coupler means, respectively. 
     
     
       20. The combination according to claim 19 wherein said valve means is a spherical ball. 
     
     
       21. The combination according to claim 20 wherein said coil spring is a tapered coil spring, having the widest portion thereof supported by said shoulder means and a narrower upper portion thereof in engagement with said valve means. 
     
     
       22. The combination according to claim 21 wherein said drain plug adapter housing has an annular groove in the first portion of said cylindrical passage adjacent the first end of said adapter housing; and said valve seat member comprises a resilient O-ring seated in said annular groove.